Marcedes Lewis has returned to the Chicago Bears, officially re-signing with the team in a one-year deal. The 40-year-old tight end’s return comes after reports emerged that the Bears and Lewis would be discussing a potential contract.
Last summer, Lewis joined the Bears on a one-year deal, bringing his veteran leadership to a young team. He originally entered the league in 2006 as a first-round pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars and spent five years with the Green Bay Packers. Despite his age, Lewis has shown that he is still one of the league’s top blockers, often playing a crucial role as an extra lineman on various plays. In fact, his impressive 77.1 PFF run-blocking grade ranked fifth among all tight ends. Additionally, Lewis contributed to the team’s offense with four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Lewis is making his return to the field, but there have been some changes in key positions. His former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and teammate Robert Tonyan are no longer with the team, both of whom played a significant role in bringing Lewis to Chicago. Additionally, quarterback Justin Fields was traded during the offseason.
Now, Lewis finds himself on an offense led by offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. He will also be working with tight end Cole Kmet, with whom he has a previous connection, and newcomer Gerald Everett, who signed a two-year deal in the offseason.
As Lewis enters his 19th season, his experience and knowledge of the game will be invaluable to Williams and the Bears. He also has the opportunity to make history by surpassing Jason Witten’s record for the most games played by a tight end. With just four games needed to break the record, it seems highly attainable considering Lewis played in all 17 games in 2023.